BabyBlue at the annual CANA council

Check out BabyBlue Online and her reports on the annual CANA council:

Have arrived in Akron for the CANA Council and it's a packed house. In fact, the session on the Prayer Book was so jammed that people were standing out in the hall listening to the session led by Bishop Martyn Minns because all the seats and floor space was filled to capacity.

There are lots of sessions going on - from sessions focused on evangelism, social justice, and mission partnerships, to church planting, healing, raising up the next generation of leaders, and an instructional session on the Eucharist service. . .

Read it all and check out the draft resolutions. And take a look at Transfigurations, too!

Archbishop of Canterbury seeks Lambeth compliant partners from Global South *UPDATED and BUMPED*

Update: So maybe I'm not totally off base in my thoughts below - Matt Kennedy agrees with me (does that give me any street cred?):

. . . There have been two meetings of the Global South, Common Cause, and Communion Partner bishops. I am not breaking news. These meetings have been reported elsewhere. The hope has been to mend fences and begin formulating a common strategy that includes both and inside and an outside track.

The fact is that while orthodox bishops were quite divided coming into Lambeth, the most noticeable shift during Lambeth has been in the direction of reconciliation and unity within the orthodox ranks. Communion conservatives and federal conservatives both on the primatial and episcopal level seem to have realized that though their consciences may lead them in different directions, recrimination serves no one’s best interest. . .

Original post: From Virtue Online, some analysis [boldface mine]:

A rival Global South movement is being set up here in Canterbury in an attempt to divide and conquer the Global South movement by encouraging a Lambeth compliant "Communion Partners" movement in an effort to isolate mainstream evangelical and Anglo-Catholics who number 40 million of the 55 million church-going Anglicans throughout the world.

Between 150 and 200 bishops from 17 provinces of the Anglican Communion met last Tuesday at the Kent University campus, with a number of North Americans who included Common Cause Moderator Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh.

Among the speakers were bishops Michael Scott-Joynt (Winchester), Tom Wright (Durham) and Bob Duncan (Pittsburgh) moderation of Common Cause Partnerships. The Rt. Rev. Ian Ernest chair of CAPA spoke and Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis addressed the gathering and spoke of the 2009 Global South Conference. They are to meet again, thought this is not certain, a source told VOL.

Senior members of the Global South Primates who were not there included Archbishops Peter Akinola, (Nigeria), Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda), Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya) and Henry Luke Orombi (Uganda), majority representatives of the Global South.

The design of this Lambeth Global South group of primates and bishops, which comes with the full support of Dr. Williams, is to blunt the Global South group of Primates that met in Jerusalem recently which includes Archbishops Peter Akinola, Peter Jensen, Gregory Venables, Emmanuel Kolini, Benjamin Nzimbi and Henry Luke Orombi and Valentine Mokiwa (Tanzania).

The list of 17 provinces includes Hong Kong, South Korea, North India, West Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Myanmar (Burma) Papua New Guinea, Jerusalem/ Middle- East, South India, Burundi, the Southern Cone, West Indies, Central Africa and the Philippines.

Together they represent approximately 6 million Anglicans. Deeply involved in this group is said to be Archbishop John Chew of Singapore, Secretary of the Global South Group and Bishop Mouneer of Egypt who is treasurer whose chairman is Archbishop Peter Akinola. Ironically the Assistant Bishop of Singapore, the Rt. Rev. Rennis Ponniah is not present at Lambeth. . .

The formation of a new Lambeth Global South movement in Canterbury would be designed to reinforce Williams' leadership of the Anglican Communion and thus would give support to his policy of non-action in the face of the actions of the U.S. Episcopal Church. Archbishop Williams' underlying strategy is to produce an inclusive church that will sideline evangelicals of the Global South who reject the theological and moral relativism that has emerged in Global Anglicanism.

Chris Smith, the Archbishop of Canterbury's aide de camp is reported to have met with Archbishop John Chew of Southeast Asia and Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis of Jerusalem and the Middle East -- leaders of center right Communion Partners group, and Presiding Bishop Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone - a member of the more traditionalist GAFCON primates' council. The Bishop of Durham and other English bishops also met with the primates to formalize a way forward for conservatives amidst the chaos of the Anglican Communion the unfolding train wreck of the Lambeth Conference.

The two conservative factions currently disagree on the best way of responding to the crisis of doctrine and discipline within the Anglican Communion. The GAFCON wing led by seven primates and comprising over 60 percent of the Communion's members, are seeking to reform the Anglican Communion and affirm that Anglican doctrine rather than recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury is the basis of Anglican identity.

The difference between the "Communion Partner" primates and the GAFCOIN primates can best be summed up in the words of Chew when he spoke to the Church Times, "Whether you like it or not, Canterbury has got to take the lead, and we pray for him and wish him well. Archbishop Chew said that he expressed strong support for the recent Sudan statement. . .

Read it all. I don't know if I agree with this analysis. I think both angles can be worked, one inside and one outside the "official" meetings, like Lambeth. While it's true, there are two "reasserter" camps, I think they have a lot more in common with each other than with the "reappraiser" faction. But individual personalities can always get in the way (and David Virtue has been doing this a lot longer than most of us, so. . . )

I do think that it has been most effective this Lambeth that there be a group that did not come, representing some of the fastest-growing areas, like Nigeria and Uganda, and a group that did show up, like the Southern Cone. Only by the absence of some has the gravity and depth of the situation been realized by Canterbury and others. And by having some there able to represent and articulate the concerns of those absent, all those at Lambeth have been able to hear that witness.

Archbishop Peter Akinola must serve full term

From George Conger:

The Nigerian House of Bishops has declined to accept Archbishop Peter Akinola’ request to retire in January when he turns 65, asking that he complete his full ten year term through the end of 2010.

Elected Primate of the largest province of the Anglican Communion in 2000 following the retirement of Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye, Archbishop Akinola has emerged as a figure of consequence and controversy within the Anglican Communion.

Pilloried by the left in the US and UK, Archbishop Akinola has been demonized for his stance on the morality of homosexual conduct and his call for the reform of the Anglican Communion. Speaking in heavily accented African-English, Archbishop Akinola is a times misunderstood by the Western media. . .

In a statement released on July 14 by the Church of Nigerian News, the Provincial Dean, Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa said the bishops had vetoed the retirement request as a consequence of the the decisions taken at the Gafcon meeting to establish a primates council to oversee the renewal of the Anglican Communion. . .

While he may serve only a single ten year term as primate, Archbishop Akinola may continue in office as Bishop of Abuja until he turns 70 years of age in 2014, when he must retire under Nigerian canon law.

Read it all.

Retraction on Bishop Cyril Okorocha, Owerii, Nigeria

From Cherie Wetzel at Anglicans United:

The Rev. Dr. Chris Sugden of Anglican-Mainstream has confirmed for our group through contact with Canon Jeremy Cresswell, that Bishop Cyril Okorocha, diocese of Owerii, Nigeria, has not been in Surrey and did not confirm that he was coming to the Lambeth Conference.

Also false are the rumors that his wife was threatened at home in Nigeria and he returned home to protect her.

Anglicans United regrets the report of this rumor and hopes that Bisop Okorocha will not be damaged by my incorrect statement.

The Lambeth Conference office continues to insist that they have received a fax from a Nigerian bishop who is in Surrey and intends to attend this conference. They have failed to provide any proof to substantiate this claim and said bishop has not come to Canterbury as of today.

It appears to me to be an intentional statement by the Communion office to insist that every Province is represented here after all. To clarify, there are no bishops here from Uganda or Nigeria.

Check it out. And check here for a history of this confusing story.

Bishop Okorocha of Nigeria Redux

From Cherie Wetzel at Anglicans United [boldface mine]:

. . . We learned at Press Briefing this morning that the conference would not confirm the attendance of any person. They won’t even confirm the numbers of bishops here or the spouses. I have tried to find my bishop, the Rt. Rev. James Stanton, and they will not tell me where he is staying. Today I requested a media interview with him to try and find him. Lets just say that the press is not impressed with the attitude and level of candidness given by the Anglican Communion press office.

This was an issue because the one Nigerian bishop who was in attendance at Lambeth – yes, he defied Abp. Peter’s order and came – left yesterday after his wife received death threats at home. The Rt. Rev. Cyril Okorocha of Owerri was staying in Surrey with Canon Jeremy Cresswell. He came specifically, “To plead with the Communion to protest the liberalization of the western Church, particularly the provinces in America and Canada”, according to a press release by Victoria Combe, The Tablet, this morning.

The release of the Sudanese statement yesterday in opposition to the promotion of homosexuality and refusal to abide by the Bible has caused a ripple in this pressroom. The Archbishop of the Sudan is meeting with press this afternoon in a “non-scheduled” meeting. I will be there! All of this and it is only noon. Things are definitely picking up here.

Read it all. The situation with Bishop Okorocha of Nigeria is very confusing. Ruth Gledhill had him registered but never arriving, David Virtue had him never registered, and now Cherie Wetzel has him registered and arrived, but now left. So which is it?

Bishop Okorocha of Nigeria: Registered for Lambeth or not?

From Virtue Online:

. . . In-house media are trying to put as much spin as they can on who is and is not here. If there is even one representative from an African province, they herald it as a victory. One Kenyan and suddenly the whole of Kenya is here. "Nigerian bishop flees!" screamed a headline in the "London Times". It was reported that the only Nigerian bishop to register for Lambeth, Cyril Okorocha, Bishop of Owerri, has fled Britain and gone back home for fear of 'reprisals', acording to a "Times" source. Not true. He never registered at all. He never even made it to Canterbury. He attended his son's graduation in Manchester, the ostensible reason for his being in the country in the first place. He also attended a few local events in the parish of Oxshott in Surrey, which was hosting him. The Archbishop of Nigeria has made it abundantly clear that Lambeth is off limits and that anyone attending from Nigeria would be subject to discipline. Okorocha has no love of Lambeth or the Anglican Communion Office. He is an evangelical who had the pain of working for John Peterson in the ACC and was in charge of evangelism when Peterson was running the Anglican Communion office. Peterson fired him so he went back to Nigeria where they made him a bishop. . .

And from Ruth Gledhill:

The only Nigerian bishop to register for Lambeth, Cyril Okorocha, Bishop of Owerri, has fled Britain and gone back home for fear of 'reprisals', a source has told The Times. It appears he never even made it to Canterbury. He attended his son's graduation in Manchester, the ostensible reason for his being in the country in the first place, and a few local events in the parish of Oxshott in Surrey which was hosting him. A source tells me that his departure was prompted by an "element" of concern for his wife back home, and of what the Archbishop of Nigeria Peter Akinola's response might be to his being here. Bishop Okorocha is a nice man, an evangelical with a good heart who used to be on the staff of George Carey at Lambeth and who believes in the unity of the Church. It was brave of him to come over and sadly, probably necessary for him to return. . .

So which is it? Was Bishop Okorocha registered for Lambeth or not? The only reason to want a straight answer is to see who is vetting their sources for info and who is just taking the latest rumor de jour and passing it on.

AAC weekly message from Bishop David Anderson

Via email [boldface mine]:

Beloved in Christ,

This week my comments start with the North American scene: the bishop of Central Florida, John Howe, whose Christian orthodoxy is solid but whose sense of strategy sometimes leaves others puzzled, has decided that he needs to part company with the Anglican Communion Network and join the Anglican Communion Institute and its allied group, Communion Partners.

Bishop Howe's relationship with the Anglican Communion Network seemed tenuous from the beginning in the eyes of some, though his diocese was solidly behind it. Now with major departures of congregations and clergy from his diocese in favor of overseas Primatial ties, there has been a shift in allegiance in Central Florida. Bishop Howe has recently, with his diocese, objected to the manner and legality of the depositions that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori imposed on bishops Cox and Schofield, and he was joined by several other dioceses and bishops in this well-justified protest.

TEC bishop John Chane of Washington, DC has gone over the edge, accusing African leaders of treating him and his church as a punching bag. He so dislikes having his heterodox beliefs held up to scrutiny that he accuses those who put the spotlight on him of being "demonic." Now it is one thing to say to a brother, "your beliefs are wrong and your practice is wrong," and when he doesn't respond, to make those same statements before the larger church family. It is another matter to say that someone is in league with the devil, which is what Chane is saying when he uses the term "demonic." This is not the first time the liberal revisionists have resorted to such language. Former Presiding Bishop Griswold did it at the end of the Primates' meeting in Northern Ireland. It marks the level of desperation, when those caught hijacking the Church of Jesus are exposed, for them to demonize their opponents. If one wishes to look at Bishop Chane and his diocese of Washington more closely, they will see a shrinking church, growing more financially troubled by the year, whose main claim to fame at this point is the Washington National Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic edifice. Chane's most recent problem with the orthodox is that we uphold Jesus' own words when He said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through me." This sits uncomfortably with Chane, a pluralist, who finds this language so narrow. Perhaps if Chane could have been the press officer for Jesus, he would have interrupted Him to say, "What Mr. Jesus means to say is....I'm just one way, there are lots of ways, everybody finds the Father/Mother/Whatever sooner or later, so pick what works for you." Thankfully Chane wasn't around back then.

Moving to the international setting, the recent actions in England which denied any formal and permanent relief to those opposed to the women bishops vote has resulted in much speculation. What will the Anglo Catholics and Evangelicals do? Many may leave, but where will they go? Are the Anglo Catholics welcome to come to Rome en mass or not? Some have suggested they are, some have said no, because the liberal English Roman Catholics do not want an infusion of conservative orthodox Catholics into their church, which would shift the demographics and affect how the Catholic Church in England functions. From other sources we hear that Rome will be welcoming orthodox Anglicans and making them a deal of some sort. Certainly married bishops who take this option will find an obstacle in their path, one that will require setting aside their episcopal garb and office, but for them, that may be a price they will willingly pay.

Archbishop Rowan Williams continues to speak against GAFCON and what it stands for, principally because he can't control it or steer it. Many have called Dr. Williams a man of prayer, others a man of superior intellect, and perhaps both are true. We would look for the fruit of both in his work. What we have seen is a man whose leadership embodies a most unusual approach, one which has not, to date, born constructive results. We don't want to see him step down, but instead we would continue to urge that he address the heterodoxy in the communion which is occurring on his watch. The reality is that, with a tip of the hat to the office, a new order within the Anglican Communion will emerge, driven by the growth and orthodoxy of those who were present at GAFCON in Jerusalem.

To end on a positive note, the Nigerian Anglican Church is very much a church in good order, to which all the bishops are subject, from the bishop of the smallest missionary district to the largest diocese, to the primate himself. His Grace was very much wishing to retire and slow down, and has been saying so for the last two years. Many of us could not see how the realignment could be as strong if he retired so soon. Recently, when he submitted his request to the bishops of the Church of Nigeria in the form of a notice of voluntary retirement as Primate, and before his full term was expired, the request was denied. They requested him to complete his tenure which ends in 2010. Many sincerely sympathize with Archbishop Akinola, recognizing the effort and energy that his job has taken over these last years, but we commend the decision. He will thus stay on as Primate until 2010 and be able to continue working with GAFCON and the Primates' Council.

To God be the glory.

The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council

GAFCON responds to the Archbishop of Canterbury

From here [boldface mine]:

The Global Anglican Future Conference gathered leaders from around the Anglican Communion for pilgrimage, prayer and serious theological reflection. We are grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for engaging with the Jerusalem Statement and Declaration. We wish to respond to some of his concerns.

On faith and false teaching. We warmly welcome the Archbishop's affirmation of the Jerusalem Statement as positive and encouraging and in particular that it would be shared by the vast majority of Anglicans. We are however concerned that he should think we assume that all those outside GAFCON are proclaiming another gospel. In no way do we believe that we are the only ones to hold a correct interpretation of scripture according to its plain meaning. We believe we are holding true to the faith once delivered to the saints as it has been received in the Anglican tradition. Many are contending for and proclaiming the orthodox faith throughout the Anglican Communion. Their efforts are, however, undermined by those who are clearly pursuing a false gospel. We are not claiming to be a sinless church. Our concern is with false teaching which justifies sin in the name of Christianity. These are not merely matters of different perspectives and emphases. They have led to unbiblical practice in faith and morals, resulting in impaired and broken communion. We long for all orthodox Anglicans to join in resisting this development.

On the uniqueness of Christ. We are equally concerned to hear that 'the conviction of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Lord and God' is 'not in dispute' in the Anglican Communion. Leading bishops in The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, and even the Church of England have denied the need to evangelise among people of other faiths, promoted and attended syncretistic events and, in some cases, refused to call Jesus Lord and Saviour.

On legitimacy. In the current disorder in the Communion, GAFCON came together as a gathering of lay leaders, clergy and bishops from over 25 countries on the basis of their confession of the common historic Christian faith. They formed a Council in obedience to the word of God to defend the faith and the faithful who are at risk in some Anglican dioceses and congregations.

GAFCON, where the governing structures of many provinces were present, affirmed such a Council of the GAFCON movement as its body to authenticate and recognise confessing Anglican jurisdictions, clergy and congregations and to encourage all Anglicans to promote the gospel and defend the faith.

In their primates and other bishops, the assembly saw a visible connection to the catholic and apostolic Church and the evangelical and catholic faith which many have received from the Church of England and the historic see of Canterbury. It is this faith which we seek to affirm.

On authority. As the Virginia Report notes, in the Anglican tradition, authority is not concentrated in a single centre, but rather across a number of persons and bodies. This Council is a first step towards bringing greater order to the Communion, both for the sake of bringing long overdue discipline and as a reforming initiative for our institutions.

Whilst we respect territoriality, it cannot be absolute. For missionary and pastoral reasons there have long been overlapping jurisdictions in Anglicanism itself – historically in South Africa, New Zealand, the Gulf and Europe. In situations of false teaching, moreover, it has sometimes been necessary for other bishops to intervene to uphold apostolic faith and order.

On discipline. Finally, with regard to the Archbishop's concern about people who have been disciplined in one jurisdiction and have been accepted in another, we are clear that any such cases have been investigated thoroughly and openly with the fullest possible transparency. Bishops and parishes have been given oversight only after the overseeing bishops have been fully satisfied of no moral impediments to their action.

We enclose a response to the St Andrew's Draft Covenant. (See separate post).

We assure the Archbishop of Canterbury of our respect as the occupier of an historic see which has been used by God to the benefit of his church and continue to pray for him to be given wisdom and discernment.

Signed

The Most Rev Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria
The Most Rev Justice Akrofi, Primate of West Africa
The Most Rev Emmanuel Kolini, Primate of Rwanda
The Most Rev Valentine Mokiwa, Primate of Tanzania
The Most Rev Benjamin Nzmibi, Primate of Kenya
The Most Rev Henry Orombi, Primate of Uganda
The Most Rev Gregory Venables, Primate of The Southern Cone
July 18 2008

Spinning GAFCON: The smell of fear

From Matt Kennedy at Stand Firm [boldface mine]:

The revisionist spin, laid down almost as soon as GAFCON was announced, has been three pronged: 1. Exaggerate every error and portray every move as an error 2. Portray difference as discord and 3. Portray the conference leaders as bent on breaking with Canterbury despite their clear words to the contrary.

Why, you might ask, do revisionists spill so much ink over what they seek to portray as an ineffectual, badly planned, narrow, schismatic conference that will have no impact and mean nothing in the end. Why not simply ignore it and go about your business?

Fear

At least that is what it looks and smells like.

Leftist bloggers and columnists reacting to GAFCON are corporately doing their best impression of a large quivering mass of fear.

I am not sure what, exactly, they are afraid of (they've largely won things after-all) but when all your opponent can do is spew scorn, bitterness, and condescension, you know you've got them.

I hope to address, eventually, all three prongs of the leftist spin but this morning I want to concentrate on the first prong: Exaggerate every error and portray everything as error. The “Gaffe” prong is helped along by the unfortunate acronym of the conference. And there have certainly been mistakes along the way--big ones. I think that it would have been of first importance, for example, to feel out the Bishop of Jerusalem and Archbishop Mouneer Anis before announcing the decision to hold GAFCON in Jerusalem and at least have a prepared response to the inevitable public disassociations that were ultimately and dutifully published by the Episcopal Church’s bishop in Jerusalem.

I’ve been here for about three days and so far GAFCON has been nothing short of a logistical miracle. A conference of this size in this location without the support of the local bishop would normally take at least a year to organize. The GAFCON people have done it in a matter of months and thus far the meetings, talks, transportation, and tours have gone off flawlessly. The supposed PR “gaffes” that Mark Harris discusses here are more figments of fevered leftist tripe and imagination than reality.

It is not, for example, a “gaffe” to put Susan Russell on a do-not-admit list. It’s a feature.

Secondly, the reporting of the exchange between the advocate for gay sex and Archbishops Orombi, Akinola, and Jensen has been atrocious. There is both video and audio of the exchange. It is not difficult to follow the line of inquiry.

When Archbishop Orombi asked for evidence from the advocate of gay sex that any bishop associated with GAFCON provinces advocates violence toward homosexual people, the advocate for gay sex provided none. Instead he put forward an example of people who claim to have been beaten raped in African prisons. Yes, lots of people, gay and straight, have suffered that sort of brutality in both African and American prisons. It is a terrible thing. But the Archbishop asked for evidence of any GAFCON bishop advocating violence against homosexual people, not for evidence of the violence itself. It is understandable that Archbishops Orombi and Akinola were confused at this point. The ground had shifted under their feet. . .

Read it all.

GAFCON: Transcript of Archbishop Akinola’s opening address

Posted on Stand Firm, Archbishop Peter Akinola's opening address at GAFCON:

People of the living God, welcome to Jerusalem. Welcome to GAFCON. One of the marks of apostolic ministry is signs, wonders and miracle[1]. There are many in today's Church, who would lay claim to apostolic authority without holding on to apostolic faith nor do they manifest any of the marks of the apostles. In GAFCON, I have seen signs and wonders. That we are able to gather here this week is a miracle for which we must give thanks to God.

There have been many seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but as a testimony that the Lord our God is firmly in control of GAFCON, he has graciously removed them. A conference of this magnitude would normally require several years of extensive planning, consultations and fund raising. We had barely five months to put this conference together. The Lord raised men and women who gladly and willingly offered their time, skill and money to make it happen.

I am very grateful to the members of the leadership team for their selfless and sacrificial roles in helping to deliver this conference, [please stand for recognition] We are deeply grateful to all provincial, diocesan and parish local committees, the donors, the tour agents, the travel agents, the Jordanian and Israeli governments for allowing us to meet here and in Jordan. Brethren, we appreciate the labours of love of the theological resource group. I must also thank in advance all those who will provide leadership in worship, workshops and plenary. We are heavily indebted to the various sub-committees and their leaders. God bless you all.

Why are we here? What have we come to do?

The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) holding here in the holy land this week has understandably elicited both commendation and contempt in varying measures from all who claim a stake in shaping the futureidentity or in destroying the traditional identity of the global Anglican Communion.

Those who failed to admit that by the unilateral actions they took in defiance of the Communion have literally torn the very fabric of our common life at it deepest level since 2003, are grumbling that we are here to break the Communion.

Similarly, those who fail, for whatever reason to come to terms with the painful reality that the Communion is in a state of brokenness and lacked the ability to secure a genuine reconciliation, but simply carried on the work of the Communion in a manner that is business as usual are not happy with us.

And of course there are those who argue that while there may be some justification for GAFCON; why not call it after Lambeth 2008.

But thanks be to God that there are millions of people around the world including members of other denominations and those of other faiths who not only share our concerns but have chosen to partner with us and are praying for us.

For those of us gathered here in the Name of the Lord, and on behalf of the over 35 million faithful Anglicans we represent[2]GAFCON is a continuation of that quiet but consistentinitiative, a godly instrument appointed to reshape, reform, renew and reclaim a true Anglican Biblical orthodox Christianity that is firmly anchored in historic faith and ancient formularies.

Be that as it may, we must note that we cannot understand our present circumstance without locating it within the context of the controversies of the past decade. Every responsible historian knows that his task is predicated on the treasury of past events-rightly interpreted, as the compass for the present and guide for the future.For this reason, GAFCON takes its bearings from the tides of varied opinions and equivocations that have characterised our Communion in the last few years and exposed our once robust reputation as children of the Reformation to scorn. We were well-known for our stand on Scripture as the foundation stone of our tradition and reason. . .

Read it all.

Jordan: Pre-GAFCON consultation relocated

From David Virtue today (6/18):

In a surprise development, conveners of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) were told last night that a principal figure in the pre consultation in Jordan, Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola was not given a visa to Jordan, even though he holds a diplomatic passport, thus throwing the leaders of the consultation into dismay because of the important role he was to play at this assembly of orthodox Anglicans.

"The time in Jordan was very valuable for prayer, fellowship, and networking," said Peter Jensen, a chief GAFCON organizer. GAFCON speaker Archbishop Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone was also not able to be in Jordan. Both, however, are expected to play significant roles at GAFCON in Jerusalem.

Leaders scrambled to find an alternative way forward allowing the inclusion of everyone expected to attend the consultation. As a result GAFCON leaders decided to move their consultation to Jerusalem and will leave on buses Thursday morning instead of Sunday as originally planned.

"We originally planned to do everything in Jerusalem, but logistical problems forced us to have the pre-consultation in Jordan," said the Rev. Dr. Arne Fjeldstad, GAFCON communications head.

"We will now have a more efficient and productive preparation for the conference in the land where Jesus was born."

The 100 participants left Jordan in high spirits many of whom made a moving visit to the baptismal sites at the Jordan and also visited Mt. Nebo where Moses looked into the Promised Land. Jordanians have undertaken major excavation and restoration at the Baptismal site which is to be the site of a church for each major Christian denomination with the full support of the Jordanian Government, this exhibiting a striking example of Christian ecumenical endeavor in a supportive Muslim country. . .

Read it all, and also Ruth Gledhill:

. . . Sources at the conference tell me that the Nigerian delegation landed in Tel Aviv and went to the northern crossing point. Archbishop Akinola was travelling on his diplomatic passport. After being questioned for four hours, he was turned back, although the rest of the Nigerian delegation was allowed in. He got his passport back, and apparently was told that they needed a particular clearance on a diplomatic passport which he did not possess.

Gregory Venables is not in Jordan because his wife is in hospital after complications following a hip operation. He is hoping to join Gafcon in Jerusalem.

So as they say, if Mohammed won't go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed. The entire Gafcon is moving to Jerusalem, where rooms have suddenly become available in hotels, because their leader Peter Akinola cannot come to them. . .

Read it all.

American Anglican Council weekly update

Via email, a message from AAC president, Bishop David Anderson [boldface mine]:

Beloved in Christ,

Although the besetting sins of the American Episcopal Church have been teaching paths to God other than through Jesus Christ and playing down the authority of Holy Scripture, the aspect that most people see is the relentless pushing of the homosexual agenda. We read in the Los Angeles Diocese's "Episcopal News" Update from May 25, 2008, that Episcopalians are encouraged to join in the Los Angeles Gay Pride parade on June 8. We quote: "The Bishop's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Ministry invites the diocesan community to join them and Bishop J. Jon Bruno to march and pray in this year's Los Angeles LGBT Pride parade on Sunday, June 8." It goes on to say that "Episcopalians will gather for a celebration of the Eucharist at 9 am in the Bank of America parking lot at the northeast corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Crescent Heights in West Hollywood before moving elsewhere to line up for the parade."

Doesn't that just warm your heart, knowing that not only are misguided clergy and laity supporting Gay Pride, but Episcopal/Anglican bishops are, too - even riding on a float. This is not a new occurrence in the LA Diocese, because each year the bishops take turns participating. The real question is, "When will Katharine Jefferts Schori be photographed riding on a float for Gay Pride?" And it isn't just in Los Angeles; the Episcopal Church bishops and priests are often represented in Gay Pride parades around the country.

It appears, if an article by Hilary White for LifeSite News is true, that now the British Government will officially, though covertly, push the homosexual agenda using all of their embassies and chancery offices around the world, even if that subverts the law of the nation they are in. This is truly breathtaking news, and raises a profound question if true: is there in fact an organized international effort to corrupt the moral climate of the entire world? If the story is true, this public exposure of the British diplomatic agenda will have far-reaching consequences. Within England, the governments' pro-homosexual legislation has caused the Roman Catholic Church to begin pulling out of the adoption ministry, because all agencies will have to handle adoptions for homosexual couples as well as for married heterosexual ones. Lost will be a vital ministry which helps both small children and couples desiring a child, along with the millions of pounds sterling poured into these agencies by Roman Catholics for buildings and services.

Word has reached us of Islamic attacks in northern Nigeria, and churches being burned. Apparently the Islamic tactic of kidnapping young girls, forcing them to convert to Islam, and then marrying them off to Muslim men, has finally resulted in police action. Although the girls in this case were rescued by the police and taken out of the area for safety, this is something that many in our Christian Anglican family have to deal with when they are a minority in Islamic Sharia Law areas. Is England ready for this? The Archbishop of Canterbury has already said that Sharia Law is "probably inevitable" in England. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali has a better idea - why not introduce Muslims to the real Christian faith and give them the opportunity to be freed from misunderstandings and become an inheritor of eternal life through Jesus Christ? In the meanwhile, let us pray for those Christians in northern Nigeria whose lives and property are today at risk.

Moving from the global back to the local, the number of dioceses that are protesting the form and manner of the depositions of Bishops Cox and Schofield, done at the last House of Bishops' meeting, continues to grow. South Carolina and Central Florida have been joined by Springfield, Northern Indiana, Western Louisiana, and more may follow.

Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,

The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council

Anglican Communion sits on keg of gun-powder

From Tope Olukole at the Saturday Tribune (Nigeria) [boldface mine]:

ANGLICAN Communion worldwide has been on this journey for ten long years. It has been costly and debilitating for all concerned as most recently demonstrated by the tepid response to the invitations to the proposed Lambeth Conference 2008.

At a time when the church should be able to gather together and celebrate remarkable stories of growth there is little enthusiasm towards the meeting.

There are continual cries for patience and understanding; and yet the record shows that those who hold to the “faith once and for all delivered to the saints” have shown remarkable forebearance while their pleas have been ignored, leaders have been demonised, and advocates marginalised.

In 1998, the Anglican Communion made a deliberate decision with regard to matters of human sexuality; it was supported by an overwhelming majority of the Bishops of the Communion. It reflected traditional teaching interpreted with pastoral sensitivity.

And yet it has been ignored and those who uphold it were derided for their stubbornness. However, the church continued to meet and pray and struggle to find ways to maintain the spirit of unity.

The journey started in February 1997 in Kuala Lumpur. It was there, during the 2nd Encounter of the Global South Anglican Communion, that a statement was issued in which concern was expressed about the apparent setting aside of the Biblical teaching by some Provinces and Dioceses. The statement pleaded for dialogue in a spirit of true unity before any part of the communion embarks on radical changes to church discipline and moral teachings.

Sadly, this plea and several similar warnings have been ignored and ten years later, in February, 2007, the Primates of the Anglican Communion met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and experienced an agonising time trying to repair the communion that has been so badly broken. Their earlier prediction at the Primates’ Meeting at Lambeth palace in 2003, that rejection of the faith committed to the church would tear “the fabric of our communion at its deepest level,” has proven to be accurate.

In Dar es Salaam, the Primates proposed, as one last attempt to restore unity, a period of seven months for those who have brought the communion to the brink of destruction to reconsider their actions and put a stop to the harmful actions that have so polarised the church. . .

Read it all.
H/t to Anglicans United.

Church of Nigeria prays for GAFCON

From the Church of Nigeria:

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Revd. Peter Akinola has called on all God’s people throughout the Church of Nigeria for Massive Intercessory Movement for the forthcoming Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

The prayer coordinator for this movement, Most Revd. Benjamin Kwashi asked that intensive prayer be made for the 2-week long conference and pilgrimage holding in Jordan and Jerusalem in June this year.

Specific areas to pray for include courage, strength, vision and wisdom for the Primate and other faithful Anglican leaders in the global church; that God may speak to His church, give clear direction for the Anglican Church worldwide and glorify His Name.

Archbishop Kwashi also requested that the Church intercede for the organizers of GAFCON and for God’s guidance in all practical arrangements and safety in travel.

H/t to Anglican Mainstream.

GAFCON response to evangelical English bishops

From the Anglican Church of Nigeria [boldface mine]:

To Bishop David James and colleagues

Brethren

We have received your letter encouraging us to attend the Lambeth Conference with you.

We trust that we are united in faithful obedience to the Scriptures and also to the Anglican Formularies. We understand your desire to continue to support the efforts of the Archbishop of Canterbury. As GAFCON Bishops and primates, we share with you a commitment to the communion and its future. We ask you to understand that we have reached a different conclusion and request you to understand our decision.

We think it is important to let you know our reasons for not acceding to your request, and also to make them public since your letter is public. We have a number of concerns.

First, the Lambeth Conference is not a two hour seminar discussing a contentious issue. It is three weeks in which we bishops and our wives are called to share together our lives, our prayer, our bible study, our meals, our worship and the Lord's Supper, to be a family together.

You will know that some of us have not been able to take communion with the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church since February 2005, - a period of about three years. The reason is that TEC took an action to consecrate Gene Robinson as Bishop in 2003 contrary to the resolution of the Lambeth Conference, an action of which they have not repented. The consecrators of Gene Robinson have all been invited to Lambeth, contrary to the statement of the Windsor Report (para 134) that members of the Episcopal Church should "consider in all conscience whether they should withdraw themselves from representative functions in the Anglican Communion".

You will know that some of those who objected to this consecration in the United States and have made arrangements for orthodox oversight from other provinces including ours have been charged with abandonment of communion. Their congregations have either forfeited or are being sued for their properties by the very bishops with whom you wish us to share Christian family fellowship for three weeks.

To do this is an assault on our consciences and our hearts. Further, how can we explain to our church members, that while we and they are formally out of communion with TEC, and provide oversight to these orthodox colleagues, we at the same time live with them at the Lambeth Conference as though nothing had happened? This would be hypocrisy.

We are also concerned that the invitation list reflects a great imbalance. It fails to address fundamental departures from historic faith that have triggered this crisis and yet excludes bishops of our own provinces, of Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda who teach and practice Biblical faith. As constituted, the invitations suggest that institutional structures are superior to the content of the faith itself.

We are also mindful of the press interest in the Conference, and in the presence in some form or other of Gene Robinson and his male partner, and of 30 gay activists. We would be the continual target of activist campaigners and media intrusion. In these circumstances we could not feel at home.

All of us have attended Lambeth before. As far as we are aware, only a few of you have been to a Lambeth Conference. In 1998, we had great difficulty in making our case heard in the face of the process of the conference. At that conference we were blessed with the leadership of Archbishop George Carey who has always been a champion of orthodox biblical teaching on sexuality. We have come to the conclusion, from the failure of the instruments of the Communion to take action either to discipline the Episcopal Church or to protect those who have asked the Communion for protection, that there is no serious space for those of an orthodox persuasion in the councils of the Communion to be themselves or to be taken seriously.

We are therefore not persuaded by your arguments to attend. We have looked at all the facts for some time. To find a solution we have proposed the postponement of the conference, the calling of a Primates' meeting and work towards the conclusion and endorsement of the Anglican Covenant by individual provinces. Our request has not been heeded. We must attend to the care of our bishops, clergy and people.

We must address the issue of the Anglican Communion Covenant, particularly as a revised version has just been published. Many of you are concerned about the need to attend Lambeth to contribute to and influence the debate on the Anglican Communion Covenant to help the working of our Communion for future reference. Currently the prospects do not seem good for what is proposed in any way to engage with our current difficulties or relate to the facts on the ground. The state of our broken Communion is not mended by the Covenant. The Lambeth Conference will only be a place to offer reflections on it. That is why some of us recommended that Lambeth be postponed in order to give space for the reconciling process to take place, a Covenant to be agreed, and Lambeth to be held for those who signed up to the Covenant. This proposal was rejected.

Even if you have decided to go to the Lambeth Conference, we hope that you will respond positively to our invitation to attend GAFCON. You will bring your rich experience of mission and we believe that you will also be enriched by the experience of Anglican bishops and Christians from around the world who are keen to share what God is doing in their midst and what He is teaching them.

We emphasise that this action is not intended to signal that we are walking out of the Communion. We are responding to a need of people committed to and continuing in the apostolic faith to meet and consider how they will walk together in mission and mutual support, and to meet in the one place which is spiritually significant for all of us.

Yours in Christ,

Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria)
Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda)
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya)
Archbishop Henry Orombi (Uganda)
Archbishop Gregory Venables (Southern Cone)

GAFCON press conference

Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria speaking at a press conference about GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference):

But Uganda, Rwanda, Sydney, Nigeria: we are not going to Lambeth conference. What is the use of the Lambeth conference for a three weeks’ jamboree which will sweep these issues under the carpet. GAFCON will confer about the future of the church, which will set a road map for the future. We are a movement that will move away from the “maybe - maybe not”.

The issue is that church leaders are endorsing what is wrong. They are not willing to make the gospel that the Lord can bring change available. We want to move forward with commitment to the word of God. The question is asked how many people we are. The question is rather how many people we are representing. Four primates who are in the leadership of GAFCON represent more than 30 million Anglicans.

Read it all.

Also was presented the GAFCON Theology Resources Team

Members of the Theology Resource Team for GAFCON met in Lagos Nigeria from January 28-30. They came from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Australia, Ghana, India, and England. They are pictured here with Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of Nigeria, fourth from the right. The GAFCON Theology Resource Team Conference focused on Authentic Global Anglicanism. . .

And check out one of the papers presented by Rev Professor Stephen Noll, vice-chancellor of Uganda Christian University on The Global Anglican Communion and Anglican Orthodoxy.

Bishops to protest Anglican liberal tilt

From the Washington Times:

A coalition of conservative Anglican and Episcopal bishops has announced an eight-day conference in Jerusalem in mid-June to register their disenchantment with the liberal direction of the Anglican Communion.

It will be six weeks before the once-per-decade Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops, scheduled for July 20-Aug. 3 at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. Although more than 800 bishops are invited to Lambeth, up to one-third may boycott it to protest the 2003 consecration of the openly homosexual New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson.

Bishop Robinson has not been invited to the Lambeth gathering, but the 18 active bishops who helped consecrate him in November 2003 were invited, sparking furious reactions from Anglican conservatives, who declared they would not attend the same conference.

"The idea is to provide pastoral support for bishops and their wives, who would have normally been expected to go to Lambeth for that, but for reasons of conscience cannot," said Canon Chris Sugden, one of the Jerusalem organizers and executive director of the Oxford-based Anglican Mainstream.

The estimated cost per person in Jerusalem, he added, is $1,000, far less than the $7,000 per bishop levied by the Lambeth conference. Jerusalem organizers are hoping for at least 250 attendees. Their plans were finalized in mid-December at a Nairobi, Kenya, meeting of 11 Anglican and Episcopal bishops claiming to represent 30 million of the world's Anglicans. . .

The alternative event, called the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), is slated for June 15-22. The invitation-only conference will include bishops and their wives, church planters and missionaries, clergy and laity.

It could be the final break between liberals and conservatives in a denomination of 77 million now paralyzed by infighting. Thousands of Episcopalians have fled their U.S. churches for Anglican congregations, and last month an entire diocese — San Joaquin in Fresno, Calif. — voted to leave the Episcopal Church. . .

In an open letter dated Oct. 30, nine conservative archbishops meeting in Shanghai asked the archbishop to postpone Lambeth until all bishops "can participate in a spirit of true collegiality and unity in the faith."

The letter added, "What is at stake is the very nature of Anglicanism — not just about sexuality, but also about the nature of Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible."

The Jerusalem event drew immediate opposition from Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani of Jerusalem, who said he had not been consulted. . .

Canon Sugden said two organizers — Archbishop Peter J. Akinola of Nigeria and Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney, Australia — will meet directly with Bishop Dawani to allay his fears.

Bishop Dawani's superior, Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis, Anglican primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, is also unhappy about the GAFCON event. In a letter to Archbishop Akinola, first publicized on the Web site www. virtueonline.org, he suggested conservatives should attend Lambeth.

"It will be a great joy for the liberals if the conservatives boycott the Lambeth Conference," he wrote. "They will not find any resistance like the one made by the Global South bishops in 1998."

In a reply, Archbishop Akinola promised GAFCON would not "be in reaction to Lambeth."

"We must set the agenda of the Gospel first," he said.

Read it all.

H/t to Anglicans United.

2008 Global Anglican Future Conference - A Pilgrimage to our Roots

So, does this announcement mean that I can take down my counter on the right marking the number of days since the Primates' September 30 deadline as stipulated in the Dar-Es-Salaam Communique? Is this the Primates' official answer to ECUSA's non-reply from the HOB meeting? I'm not sure, but I'll think about it.

Press release issued by Primates organizing the Global Anglican Future Conference:

Orthodox Primates with other leading bishops from across the globe are to invite fellow Bishops, senior clergy and laity from every province of the Anglican Communion to a unique eight-day event, to be known as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) 2008.

The event, which was agreed at a meeting of Primates in Nairobi last week, will be in the form of a pilgrimage back to the roots of the Church’s faith. The Holy Land is the planned venue. From 15-22 June 2008, Anglicans from both the Evangelical and Anglo-Catholic wings of the church will make pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where Christ was born, ministered, died, rose again, ascended into heaven, sent his Holy Spirit, and where the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out, to strengthen them for what they believe will be difficult days ahead.

At the meeting were Archbishops Peter Akinola (Nigeria), Henry Orombi (Uganda), Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda), Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya), Donald Mtetemela (Tanzania), Peter Jensen (Sydney), and Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria); Bishops Don Harvey (Canada), Bill Atwood (Kenya) representing Archbishop Greg Venables (Southern Cone), Bishop Bob Duncan (Anglican Communion Network), Bishop Martyn Minns (Convocation of Anglicans in North America), Canon Dr Vinay Samuel (India and England) and Canon Dr Chris Sugden (England). Bishops Michael Nazir-Ali (Rochester, England), Bishop Wallace Benn (Lewes, England) were consulted by telephone. These leaders represent over 30 million of the 55 million active Anglicans in the world.

Southern Cone Primate Gregory Venables said “While there are many calls for shared mission, it clearly must rise from common shared faith. Our pastoral responsibility to the people that we lead is now to provide the opportunity to come together around the central and unchanging tenets of the central and unchanging historic Anglican faith. Rather than being subject to the continued chaos and compromise that have dramatically impeded Anglican mission, GAFCON will seek to clarify God’s call at this time and build a network of cooperation for Global mission.”

The gathering set in motion a Global Anglican Future Conference: A Gospel of Power and Transformation. The vision, according to Archbishop Nzimbi is to inform and inspire invited leaders "to seek transformation in our own lives and help impact communities and societies through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Bishops and their wives, clergy and laity, including the next generation of young leaders will attend GAFCON. The GAFCON website is www.gafcon.org. . .

Read it all and check out their website.

Anglican traditionalists plan summit summer 2008 pre-Lambeth

From George Conger [boldface mine]:

. . . Meeting in Nairobi last week, the Global South Steering Committee, under the presidency of the Primate of Nigeria Archbishop Peter Akinola, discussed plans for a gathering of bishops to be held weeks before the start of the 2008 Lambeth Conference at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

The meeting would not be a shadow Lambeth Conference, but would include traditionalists who may boycott Lambeth. Bishops from Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda and other global south provinces are likely to sit out Lambeth 2008 due to Dr. Williams’ invitation to the liberal American bishops and his rejection of the African consecrated bishops to the US.

Dr. Williams has urged all of the Communion’s bishops to attend Lambeth. In an Advent letter released after the Global South Nairobi meeting concluded, he used his strongest language so far in making the case for all those invited to come. A refusal to attend Lambeth “can be a refusal of the cross - and so of the resurrection,” Dr. Williams said.

Plans for a Global South-led gathering of bishops have been in the works for over a year. However they have gained momentum in recent months as the pace of the disintegration of the Episcopal Church quickened, and as the perception that delay and obfuscation were all that could be expected from the central bodies of the Communion took hold among traditionalists.

Read it all.

AAC: Response to the Advent Letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury from Bishop David C. Anderson

Via email [boldface mine]:

Message from Bishop David C. Anderson

Beloved in Christ,

Not having written last week because I was in the bishops-elect pre-consecration retreat, it is good to be back with you and be able to share some thoughts on domestic and international events in the Anglican world.

Nigeria, as well as some other Anglican Communion provinces, takes the preparation of a new bishop very seriously. Four of us, together with our wives, spent five full days on a mountaintop (literally) near Harper’s Ferry, WV being schooled in both spiritual and practical dimensions of the office of a bishop. In the midst of this time it snowed about eight inches, and the temperature dropped into the teens Fahrenheit. Then the well at the retreat center ran dry—no water for about 15 hours. It was really a test to see if we were up to this new calling. The consecration service was deeply impacting and moving to me and the others, but it still seems odd to have people say "bishop" and it doesn't yet occur to me that they might be trying to get my attention.

While our CANA services were underway that second weekend in December, across the United States in San Joaquin the diocese voted overwhelmingly to leave the Episcopal Church and its problems—spiritual and contentious—and find an orthodox and safe home in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The AAC applauds their actions and wishes them the very best; we look forward to our continued mutual relationship in ministry and mission with them over the coming years.

One of the major events of recent days is the Archbishop of Canterbury's Advent Letter which, when it is peeled apart, shows both a lack of personal conviction on moral and spiritual issues, but a clear resolve on acquisition of power. A TEC priest, who for the moment will remain anonymous, summed up Williams' Advent missive as follows:

• Trying further to pin down TEC is futile.


• We will not exclude those who violate doctrine.


• We will exclude those who violate discipline (structure).


• Anglicanism has failed.

I think the good father is close, but wrong on the last line, which I believe should read “Lambeth Palace/Anglican Communion Office Anglicanism has failed.”

I say this because the orthodox majority as measured by seats in the pew:

• Definitely wishes to pin down TEC.


• Would definitely place on probation those who violate doctrine.


• Would understand and accommodate those whose moral actions were non-normative to structure and discipline


• Is part of a vibrant and growing Global South Anglican Christianity.

What do you do with a meat market that weighs their thumb along with the meat? Replace the manager! What should the Anglican Communion do with those in high or low positions who always ask others but weigh their own thumbs? Bishops Robinson and Schori are not the problems; they are the symptom of a problem, the answer of which is found at the top, looking wistfully out of Lambeth's window.

In the Advent Letter there is no call for TEC to repent or even do better, but rather for all of us to accept that they are locked into their iniquity and we have to accept that as it is. They stay at the table, and the orthodox have the burden of trying to figure out how to live with them. Additionally, it is clear that the AMiA, CANA, Kenya and Uganda USA bishops are not only unwelcome or unworthy to sit with Dr. Williams, but he questions their LEGITIMACY. In one quote he says, "And while … I understand and respect the good faith of those who have felt called to provide additional episcopal oversight in the USA, there can be no doubt that these ordinations have not been encouraged or legitimized by the Communion overall." It is finally not those few of us that he is really attacking, but our Primates: Akinola, Orombi, Nzimbi, and Kolini. The actions of Primate Venables really upset his sense of order as well, because now Canadian and American bishops and one entire diocese have changed provinces and moved to the Southern Cone.

Dr. Williams announces in his letter that he is seizing yet more power and initiative, principally to punish the orthodox, by several new actions. He is launching "professionally facilitated conversations" between TEC and those they are most in dispute with to see if there is any better level of mutual understanding. What part of the last ten years does he not understand? The TEC revisionists do understand us and fear us. That is why, like pharaoh, they are trying to prevent our multiplying. And we do understand the revisionists, and we are determined not to go to hell with them, no matter what the cost of our resistance. In launching this new action, he also announces that he knows who he will pick to do it. This is not collegial. This is power.

He also intends to convene a small group of Primates, hand picked by himself, to work supposedly with other groups to decide "whether...it is possible for provinces or individual bishops at odds with the expressed mind of the Communion [does he mean boundary crossings or adherence to Lambeth 1.10?] to participate fully in representative Communion agencies, including ecumenical bodies." This means that those Primates who have done the morally right thing could be kicked off of Communion boards and bodies for their “disruptive actions.” Then concerning those of us who are US Anglican bishops answering to overseas Primates, this hand-picked group of primates "will thus also be bound to consider the exact status of bishops ordained by one province for ministry in another."

The questions for today are, "Do we have to go through Canterbury to be Christian?" and "Do we have to go through Lambeth Palace to be Anglican?" Many will be searching their souls to deal with these questions. Dr. Williams also asks "who speaks for Anglicanism?" and I would suggest that the faithful orthodox Anglicans themselves speak for the Anglicanism of today and the future. Dr. Williams speaks for the dead and dying Anglicanism of a tired and confused structure.

In this season of Advent, I am sustained knowing that Jesus is coming back in power and glory, and that His reign will be perfect. All the troubles of this present age will fall away, and those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be gathered up and live with him forever. Amen.

Have a Blessed Advent!

The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council